REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WORKERS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20093, 24 November 1930, Page 17

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE WORKERS.

WELLINGTON DISPUTE. CHALLENGE BY UNION. [IHS PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November 22. There will be no public debate between Mr W. Bromley, of the Trades and Labour Council, and Mr J. Roberts, of the Labour Alliance, although the stage appeared set for Buch an interesting exchange. Mr Roberts considers that Mr Bromley has misconstrued his suggestion for placing the facts of the Unemployment Board appointments L fore the rank and file of the Labour movement. Following the publication of an advertisement challenging the Welfare League, the Minister for Labour, the Trades and Labour Council Executive, and other opponents "of the just claim of the workers" to attend the meeting and hear the verdict of the rank and file, Mr "Bromley addrossed a letter to Mr James Roberts, secretary of the Alliance of Labour: "There is no tlifforence of opinion between the Alliance if Labour and the Trades Council as to the right of the workers to elect their own representatives, said Mr Bromley, in his letter. "The challenge yannot therefore be connected with that question. The difference of opinion is apparently due to the action of the Wellington Trades Council in recommending the president ana secretary to the affiliated unions for nomination, and also to the action of myself in accepting appointment to the Board. I accept the challenge on behalf of the Trades "ouncil, and suggest that in order th„t the rank ana file may decide with a full knowledge or the facts, the question be debated at the meeting between ourselves on tho following resolution: 'That the action of the Wellington Trades Council in recommending to its affiliated unions the nominations of Messi» W. Bromley and F. D. Corn well as workers' representatives on the Unemploymen' Board he approved, and the action of Messrs Bromley and Mcßrine in accepting appointment after nomination is in tne best interests of the workers of the Dominion.' " K PP n At noon to-day uo reply had been received by Mr Bromley, but Mr Bob erts made a statement to a reporter in which he declined to accept the chal tenge to a debate. Mr Roberts stated

that there was no challenge issued by the Alliance of Labour to debate the question either to Mr Bromley or to any other person. The advertisement which was inserted by a trade union and not by the Alliance of Labour officially, says Mr Roberts, challenged the Welfare League, the Minister for Labour, and the executive of the Wellington Trades and Labour Council to attend the meeting and hear the verdict of the rank and file. That was not a challenge to debate. Further, said Mr Roberts, although ne recognised Mr Hromley's ability as a debater, he did not think he was competent to represent the Welfare League, the Government, and the Trades Council in a debate of that kind.